Have you ever had a conversation on your smartphone, only for your newsfeed to shortly thereafter show you unsolicited ads and articles relating to what you’d recently spoken about?
The phenomenon of content targeting based on private conversations, has sparked widespread debate.
Could our phones be actively listening to us, using microphone data to tailor content in breach of privacy settings?
Uncover opinions behind the debate. Learn what you can do to improve your privacy protection. Tune in as Ayman Alashkar, Founder & CEO of overwrite.ai, teams up with Zeena Zalamea and Sonal Rupani on Dubai Eye 103.8 for a captivating discussion.
Ayman recounted numerous occasions where he experienced this phenomenon. One memorable instance he shared involved a conversation with a friend about rugby scrums. Watch what happened.
To his surprise, his phone seemingly intercepted the conversation, as ads related to software development scrum methodologies began appearing on his feed within moments. It was clear that his phone had been listening. And if that wasn’t bad enough, it had misunderstood the context entirely.
These instances not only confirm the active listening capabilities of our devices but also highlight their tendency to misinterpret our conversations.
So what can you do to improve your smartphone’s privacy settings?
Anybody that wishes to take their privacy and security seriously, should regularly review their app permissions every 6 months. Decide which permissions they’re comfortable granting to apps. Some apps may overreach for data that they have no business wanting. Stay vigilant and consider uninstalling apps that request excessive permissions. This proactive approach helps enhance smartphone privacy settings.
Here are some useful tips on how to manage app permissions on both iOS (iPhone) and Android devices.
The debate surrounding whether our phones are eavesdropping on our conversations remains highly controversial, with numerous publications such as The Washington Post weighing in on the matter. However, what becomes evident is that there are arguments supporting both perspectives.
Now, the question remains: Do you believe our phones are actively listening in on our conversations, or is it all just speculation?
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